Saturday, 15 December 2012

All may seem quiet on the western front here in Wales, but I have been busy catching up on paperwork and domestic stuff, sorting out photos for the several talks I have been asked to give, and considering possible further exploits next year - perhaps continue west across Ireland and Newfoundland?
Also unfortunately while moving a feisty young Welsh pony filly from one field to another I had a bit of a 'turn'. When I went to A & E to have it checked out as a precaution, I was whisked into hospital with a suspected heart attack and had to lie in bed for a week hooked up to a monitor until I could have an angiogram. This showed I probably had Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (Octopus pot syndrome!) which is apparently prevalent in older women under intense stress. The good news is that it does not cause permanent damage to the heart, and I suppose it is a good excuse to take it easy over Christmas, though I doubt that will happen!

On Tuesday Bolashak our Kazakh steppe stallion arrived safely at his new home in Holland with the Van Klooster family. You may remember little Emma Van Klooster rode and fell in love with him in Kazakhstan, and joined us for part of the ride from Newhaven to Greenwich in July. Emma and her beloved Bolly near Guildford ......

Daughter Iona is still harping and singing in the band of up and coming star Laura Mvula, who has been shortlisted for BBC Sound of 2013 - previous winners include Ellie Goulding, Adele and Jessie J. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0129r64 for BBC performance

Iona is off on a mini tour to Holland with Laura and the band in the New Year, and to a music festival in Texas in March.

The double chin strikes again, not to mention the sack of potatoes cantering around in the background behind the presenter. Iona placed it in ten top 10 cringe moments of her life, though I thought she aquitted herself valiantly. As Gwenny commented on Facebook 'Dwy'n falch iawn o chi Iona. Rwyt ti 'di wneud rywbeth arbennig ac rwy'n credu dy fod ti'n rhyfeddol'

But I was riveted to the film footage which we took of the ride itself as it the first time I have seen it. I never rewound to view at the time as I was so terrified of taping over or losing stuff we had filmed! I handed all my tapes over to S4C to use and put on CD, so hopefully I will soon be able to see the rest.

Monday, 8 October 2012

For anyone who has access to Welsh TV and is interested in witnessing my pathetic attempts to conduct an interview in Welsh, I have just had a phone message from Welsh TV channel S4C to say the feature about the ride will be on Heno this evening. Unfortunately or perhaps fortunately I will be up in London at lecture/dinner at the RGS so will miss it.

Monday, 1 October 2012

Suddenly realised to my horror that in all the excitement of completing the last leg of my ride nearly two weeks ago, I totally forgot to bring my blog up to date, though I have sent out a newsletter and face-booked - see http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/groups/100069313746/.

So if you are not already aware, on Wednesday September 17th I reached my final destination of Worm's Head at the end of the Gower Peninsula in Wales, having ridden all the way from Old Dragon's Head at the eastern end of the Great Wall in China, shown below..........

Worm in this context is the old English for a serpent or dragon, which means I have ridden from a Dragon's Head on the Chinese coast to one on the Welsh coast! This destination had particular resonance for me as my mother's side of the family (Knoyle) originate from Swansea/Gower. Incredible to think that it is four years ago this coming Thursday that I originally set out from Shanhaiguan bright eyed and bushy tailed with no conception of the many challenges that lay ahead. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then.

Thanks go to Anthony Frost of Welsh Cottage cakes www.welshcottagecakes.co.uk who has not only sponsored my mount Zorbee, but welcomed me to coffee and sandwiches at the factory in Llandeilo on my way through on Monday.

Thanks also to Sherry Wilson and Rowena Moyse for kindly stabling Zorbee free of charge en route, Lisa Williams for watering me and Zorbee in Pontardulais (see photo above), and neighbours David and Theresa Ford for fetching us home.

We arrived at Worm's Head on a glorious afternoon after a breezy ride across Gower - I had forgotten how stunning the views are along Rhossili Bay. A photographer from the Western Mail was waiting and Zorbee and I spent about an hour posing for photos.....

Worm's Head seems to be a prime spot for overseas visitors, and I was able to flabbergast a group of Chinese tourists from Beijing by telling them (in Chinese of course!) that I had just ridden all the way from their home town. A pity I forgot my Chinese flag.

I have had quite a few requests for talks, and on Saturday I gave my first one to a group of most receptive guinea pigs at Rowena Moyse's carriage driving centre near Gowerton http://www.rowena-moyse.com/

On the way down to Gower I was interviewed by Swansea Sound, and last Friday S4C sent reporter and film cameraman over to our home Ffrwdfal to interview and film me for 'Heno'. Heno is on every weekday at 7.00pm and the feature may be shown this evening, or failing that in the near future. A bit daunting trying to answer questions in my horrendously rusty Welsh, since I have been trying to concentrate on speaking Chinese and Russian during the last few years! I just hope none of my former Welsh teachers will be watching.

Wednesday, 12 September 2012

Nearly a month has gone past and I am once again way behind with my blog. Suffice it to say that I arrived safely in Wales on August Bank Holiday after a fairly uneventful but sometimes wet ride from London. After leaving London I rode via Windsor, Henley and Goring and along the Ridgeway to north of Swindon, then northwest to Gloucester, where I crossed into Wales. Then via the Forest of Dean, Abergavenny, Brecon and Llandovery to home.
Since then it has been an uphill struggle to cope with unpacking, unanswered mail, unpaid bills, domestic affairs, horses, houses, family and life in general. Not to mention surviving 'Ffrwdfest', the weekend of fun and games at our home Ffrwdfal organised by my three children - this year's theme was unsurprisingly The Olympics! And of course my arrival home from my Olympic ride was one of the star events. But more of that later.

Many thanks to all those who helped and hosted me on my journey home.
This includes old school friend Sarah Wilson who carted me around and provided full board and lodging (highly recommended!) for several nights at her home near Reading, and ex work colleague Theresa (and husband Trevor) who provided Zorbee and I with accomodation and a great welcome in the Forest of Dean.
Thanks to Mount Mascal stables in Bexley for accomodating both Zorbee and I at the beginning of the leg, Vauxhall City farm for looking after Zorbee overnight while Anna Bruce (PR for HOOF London and Ms Fixit for my London arrival) hosted and entertained me (nothing like a film and a glass of wine or two to relax). Deen City farm gave us a welcome lunch stop, while Park Lane Stables looked after us in grand style with a stable for Zorbee and a plush hotel for me!
Thanks also go to Jason Warner of the Cotswold Riding Centre www.cotswoldtrailriding.co.uk for looking after Zorbee for two nights while I had a break, and helping me collect my car from Swindon. In Wales I was hosted by Cathy and Dave Bowen at their delightful and highly recommended B&B www.penylanfarm.co.uk and Zorbee was provided with accomodation at the Rotherdale stud of Welsh cobs (thanks Wendy and Laura) and the Cantref Riding Centre www.cantref.com. Last but not least, on home territory, friend Terry Brunton who stabled Zorbee and came out to guide me in on her ATV when I was coming inat dusk after a long day's riding, and friends Anthony and Ann who stabled Zorbee the night before my official arrival HOME.

Sunday, 12 August 2012

On Thursday I set out from Mount Mascal stables to ride back to Wales, visiting HOOF London supported stables en route. Passing Greenwich Park on the day of the memorable individual dressage finals, I arrived mid afternoon at Vauxhall City Farm www.vauxhallcityfarm.org where Zorbee was stabled overnight near an assortment of animals including alpacas and chickens. Linda the manager went to great effort to keep him happy by moving their two shetland ponies into the next door stables where he could see them - Zorbee tends to panic if he thinks he has been abandoned without equine company - and she phoned to assure me he had settled in. Thanks Linda!
The next day I rode to Park Lane stables in Teddington via Deen City Farm www.deencityfarm.co.uk , passing very close to my daughter's house share in Tooting Bec - so I was very pleased when housemates Emma and Lou came down to the station to cheer me on!

..and no, I did not cheat by taking the tube - though I don't think Oyster cards are available for horses.

Tuesday, 7 August 2012

Last Wednesday August 1st I was delighted to be invited as a guest of honour to a British Equestrian Federation reception on board the Cutty Sark in the presence of HRH the Princess Royal. In Beijing in 2009 I was presented with an Olympic flag by the Chinese Equestrian Association at the official starting ceremony. I flaunted it on a pole riding into Greenwich, and I was now given the opportunity to officially hand it over to the Chairman of the BEF, Keith Taylor.I also gave a little speech which seemed to go down very well - at any rate the Master of the Worshipful Company of Farriers subsequently asked me if I would give a talk to them at some point!

Here I am hobnobbing with Princess Anne, who came over to quiz me about the journey - she was most engaged and friendly, and we were also able to congratulate her on the wonderful success of daughter Zara in the Olympic eventing!

Sunday, 29 July 2012

I was keen to get home after all the arrival celebrations in London last weekend since it was Royal Welsh Show week, and my Welsh pony mare Cwrtycadno Perlen was being shown in the Senior Welsh pony mare class on the Thursday. I have loaned out a few of my best mares while I have been away on the ride, and she had made the long trip up to Scotland to the Waxwing stud, along with her full sister Cwrtycadno Glain.
Stud owners Tom Best and David Blair offered to show her at the Royal Welsh for me, and as they are experienced and excellent showmen, I jumped at the chance. So I was delighted when she not only won an extremely strong Senior Mare class, but was made Reserve Champion Female Section B (Welsh pony), and this to the pony that was the eventual Supreme Champion of the Show!

Here she is strutting her stuff at the show with Tom Best piloting. It really was the icing on the cake following my success after a challenging and sometimes very difficult couple of years.

Added to this Geert Verbaas of the Stoujgeshoeve stud in Holland was staying with us and showing four lovely ponies at the Show. His stunning chestnut yearling colt Stougjeshoeve Escudo was Reserve Male Champion, and his colt foal by our stallion Cwrtycadno Cymro (that Stougjeshoeve leased last year) was second in his class. So there was quite a lot of bubbly flowing that night at home!!

A very belated post as usual, since the last week has been a mad whirl!

We had been extremely disappointed when the planned venue for my arrival reception in Greenwich fell through due to Health and Safety issues only a week before we were due to arrive, and it looked as if my arrival would be a complete anti-climax. However every cloud has a silver lining, and as a result of this setback the King's Troop came to the rescue. We were kindly offered the facility of the Royal Artillery Barracks in Greenwich as a venue for the arrival ceremony - a much grander option in any case!

So on the morning of Sunday 22nd July, accompanied by Rowena and Peng Wenchao on Harry and Bolashak and two riders from Mount Mascal stables, and escorted by four members of the King's Troop in full regalia, Zorbee and I rode into the Royal Artillery Barracks. Here we were met by the representative of the British Equestrian Federation, David Gadsby, and a representative from Greenwich council. I was able to hand over the Olympic flag that had been presented to me in Beijing by the Chinese Equestrian Association in April 2009, which we had carried with us through nine countries, and which I flaunted on a pole as we rode through the streets of London.

A crowd of family and friends were also waiting to greet us, as were a posse of media, so it was another photo fest. Zorbee was prepared to look suitably bored, but luckily we were right next to the Olympic shooting venue with attendant gunfire, so that is why he has his ears pricked in the photo above!

Then it was back to a cafe on Shooters Hill for a small get-together and opportunity for media interviews - one of which was shown on HTV Wales news that evening. See http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2012-07-22/carmarthenshire-womans-10-000-mile-horseback-trip/
Zorbee and Bolashak were carted off to Danson Park for the Bexley torch celebrations and I followed later in the car with Gwenny.
The two horses had a corral in the park where they received the public, and they actually saw the torch passing - I know, because I was only alerted to its arrival because I was wondering what Zorbee was looking at!

On Wednesday 18th Peng, Rowena and I set off to follow a wooded section of the North Downs way ....

...across the River Mole and via a subway under the M25 to Walton-on-the-Hill, where we were to be hosted at Anthea Chambers' very friendly and well run riding centre http://www.wildwoodsriding.co.uk/. We were given a fantastic welcome by Anthea and her sprightly 83 year old mother Justine Cowley Wise, who kindly presented me with a copy of 'In Those Days' - a fascinating account of her early life growing up in India. Anthea treated five of us (riders Peng, Rowena and me, and support team Michael and Jeremy) to a splendid meal out, and Peng and Rowena were able to hone their riding skills on Trojan, the mechanical horse at the centre ...

Rowena was mischievously encouraged by Anthea to try riding under the trees on the screen, at which she was a bit more successful than the rather circuitous dressage test she then attempted - no Gold medals here I fear!
Posing with Anthea for a photographer from the local rag....

Replete with a full English breakfast the next morning, we continued on our way along the North Downs. Checking the route on Banstead Heath ........

...and by a monument on the North Downs Way near Reigate with the Low Weald behind

A midday coffee stop in a car park near Gatton Park provided Peng with a surprise reunion, as who should turn up but Val Price-West, who joined the ride for a leg in Xinjiang - they had not seen each other since May 2010 nearly two years ago, when we said goodbye to Peng in Kuytun ! ....

After a long day's ride we eventually arrived tired and hungry at Westerham, where I had arranged to stay with Terry Tahir of the Farchynys stud, a fellow Welsh pony breeder. What a relief to have a hot shower, a slap up meal and a comfortable bed!
It was a shorter ride the next day, Friday July 20th, through country lanes to Chelsfield Equestrian Centre http://www.chelsfieldequestriancentre.co.uk/ Jan Bumire sent riders out to escort us in, and we had a another unbelievably warm welcome. I suddenly realised that we now actually had a view of London from the stables, and it brought home to me how close I was to finally achieving my goal after four years of riding!
So near and yet so far ...the view from Chelsfield and the Shard is clearly visible .....

The icing on the cake here was actually just that - this amazing iced cake which had been made especially for me to celebrate the ride.......

... much to good to eat, though it was not long before we were tempted!
Our penultimate day of riding on Saturday brought us to Mount Mascal Stables in Bexley http://www.mountmascalstables.com/ which was to be our base for the final ride in to Greenwich.

The first job on the agenda was to give Zorbee a thorough wash and brush up in preparation for the arrival ceremony the following day. While he was travelling and living out for much of the time, I did not like to wash him and remove the natural oils which act as a protection against the weather. But now the bucket and sponge came out with a vengeance and the scruffy dirty nag was transformed into a gleaming white steed with silky mane and tail! Being a dark bay, Bolashak does not show the dirt and only needed a thorough brush to tidy him up.

Harry had a stable while Zorbee (with New Zealand rug to keep him clean overnight) and Bolashak settled down happily in the small paddock I preferred for them, complete with visiting suburban foxes.
The 'team' were kindly accomodated in staff lodgings.

I would like to extend my grateful thanks to all those who hosted us on the way to London. We thoroughly appreciated all the overwhelming kindness and warm hospitality we received en route, and for me it was a wonderful way to round off the ride and fully enjoy the final stage after what has at times been a very rigorous and challenging venture. Many many thanks!!!

There was great excitement on July 5th when I went to fetch my Chinese team member Peng Wenchao from Heathrow airport on his first trip abroad - having been with us on the first leg, he was to join us on the last leg of the journey. We were joined later by Harry Tse of horseball China, who has provided so much invaluable support to the ride, and his son Jeremy who was going to be part of the team on the final stage. After a day sightseeing in London we all drove down to Wales for a few days preparation - Harry, Peng and Jeremy cleared out and spring-cleaned the lorry and even painted the living area!
Friday 13th July was perhaps not the most auspicious date to set off on the journey to Newhaven with the two horses Zorbee and Bolashak. But we arrived without setback at our overnight stop at Swanborough Farm www.swanboroughfarm.co.uk to find Rowena knocking back the wine with host Will Greenwood. Many thanks for all your help, Will!
We were short of a mount for the three of us, and as a Welsh pony breeder who has tried to use native breeds where possible on the ride, I had been keen to include a Welsh breed on this last push. When I contacted Angela Kember of the Southeast Welsh Pony and Cob Association at the last minute, to my delight she immediately suggested her own Welsh cob gelding Danaway Black Harry. And in spite of her busy schedule she duly turned up that evening with trailer and Harry. He spent the night in the yard, Zorbee and Bolashak had a large grassy field and Rowena and I kipped down in the stables in our sleeping bags.
We were up bright and early the next morning when Mike arrived to box Zorbee down to Newhaven ferry port for photo session and start. Then it was off along the cliff top path and up bridleways over the hills to meet Peng and Rowena on Bolashak and Harry at a prearranged venue on the South Downs Way. Here is Rowena on board our new team member Danaway Black Harry.

It was a breezy day's ride along the South Downs, and we were glad of Peng who acted the true gentleman in opening all the many gates! We even managed a bacon butty break at an opportune burger van in a layby at a busy road crossing to the great entertainment of burger lady and customers alike. Our next stopover at Plumpton College, where the horses were treated to large comfortable loose boxes. And as it was Rowena's birthday, myself and the 'boys' (Peng, Mike and Jeremy) were treated to a suberb candlelit dinner at a very cosy pub down the road. A bit more sophisticated (though not any more tasty) than the fare produced by Rowena 12 months ago of hash concocted from tins over a camp fire on the Kazakh steppe!

The next day it was another glorious day along the South Downs Way...

.... passing the Devil's Punchbowl, and stopping for a pub lunch before making our way down the escarpment and out across the Weald to the Royal Leisure Centre at Henfield www.royalleisure.co.uk
We had a tremendous welcome here from Emily Talbot. Not only were we treated to a curry in the evening, but a guided tour of Hickstead the next morning when we had our photos taken under the infamous Derby Bank!
A damp morning the following day and we were directed via a back route onto the Downs Link Way, which links the South and North Downs Ways via an abandoned railway line. We were joined for the day by Cheryl Hillman on her super little Section B gelding Llanarth Grenade......

I was delighted to have a Welsh pony along, and even more pleased when they raised £125 for our beneficiary charity ChallengeAid!
Horsham was our next stop, and we were hosted by the Bridge House Equestrian Centre http://www.bridgehouse-equestrian.co.uk . Rowena and I slept in one of the classrooms, and a priceless evening's entertaiment was provided by the beginner's agility dog classes being held in the indoor school!
While in Kazakhstan, Bolashak was ridden by a little Dutch girl Emma van Klooster, who fell in love with him. The Van Klooster family were back on holiday in Holland this summer, and came over to support us for the last few days to London. So on the following day (Tuesday 17th July) Emma took over the ride on Bolashak along the next section of the Downs Link ..

..... to the Albury Equestrian Centre www.surreyriding.co.uk where we were being put up for the night, courtesy of Caroline Xuereb.
The centre were aware we were bringing a stallion, and in evident expectation of some rampaging beast, had asked us to stable him. When Welsh cob Harry was turned out in a paddock and strutted his stuff, we were politely reminded of this request - they were a bit taken aback when we pointed out that the stallion was the one with the little twelve year old girl!

Group at Albury Equestrian Centre. Mike seems to have grabbed centre stage. Fifth team member Jeremy Tse is between me and Peng.

Thursday, 12 July 2012

I would like to remind everyone that one of the main aims of this ride is to support an outstanding charitable cause, namely helping to further the education of disadvantaged children, giving them greater opportunity in life to help themselves. The charity is now under the new name of

For the last three weeks, I have madly been sorting out the route from Newhaven to Greenwich including overnight stops, and am most grateful to the following stables who have been able to accommodate the horses. The itinerary below gives an idea of where we will be if you would like to come and meet us en route.

The plan was for an arrival reception on Monday 23rd July organised by HOOF London and held at an Olympic Legacy Project site in Shooter's Hill, but unfortunately Greenwich council refused permission for the event (presumably for Health and Safety reasons as it is still being built). Very disappointing for everyone involved, but it does not affect my ultimate aim of reaching Greenwich.
I am already taking part in the Bexley torch celebrations at Danson Park on Sunday 22nd July, so I will probably ride down to Greenwich Park beforehand to complete the journey.

The Olympic equestrian events finish on August 8th, and on August 9th I will set out across London, visiting selected Equestrian centres before continuing back to Wales. So if you live in the areas I am passing through, watch out for me. More details on this in due course.

June 15th.
It was nice to have a day off before my final day's riding in France, the more so because it gave me a chance to look at Anais's Welsh ponies, including a little gelding Cwrtycadno Rhys which I bred and sold to France as a youngster. Here he is with Anais..

A dawn start the following morning, and Anais's Welsh pony stallion Cadlan Valley Pirate comes to the gate to see us off..

Through the Foret D'Eawy not too far from Val Ygot..

which was a V-1 flying bomb launch site in World War II. Fortunately the site was disabled in 1943 before completion, but the Germans went on to launch 'doodlebugs' against Britain from other sites from June 1944 until October 1944 when the last site within range of Britain was overrun. Even during this short period the bombs caused great loss of life and injury, more than 6000 Londoners being killed by V-1 bombs.
I had hoped to visit the site en route through the forest, but somehow missed it.

At Freuville I was able to join the Avenue Verte..

This is a 250 mile London-Paris cycle path running from the London Eye to the Notre Dame via the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry. There did not seem to be problem taking a horse along it, and in fact there was even a farrier right beside the track at Dampierre Saint Nicholas!

Zorbee looks thankful to have passed his final test on the GRP above St Aubin-le-cauf...

...a narrow path across a field between two strands of barbed wire. I just prayed some skittish bullocks would not appear when I was halfway across!

and finally I reach the English Channel, (or should I say La Manche as we are on the French side!) to successfully complete the coast to coast crossing of Eurasia over three and half years after I began on the Chinese coast in 2008! As far as I am aware, I am the first person to do this - but perhaps you know different? You can just see Dieppe in the background.

But no flag waving crowds or brass bands there to greet us - only a rather bemused pair of swimmers on a damp day.

Zorbee had been a little reluctant to load when I initially collected him, but Mike and I had given him a few last minute loading lessons in the week up to our arrival in Dieppe, and he walked onto the lorry with no hesitation. Then it was back to friend Ingrid Delaitre's to rejoin Zahira - the Shagya mare I had brought from Hungary. Many thanks Ingrid for looking after her so well while I was riding across France!
A couple of days later all the horses (Zorbee, Zahira, Bolly) loaded quietly onto the lorry for the ferry to Newhaven.

June 13th
We were now in Upper Normandy, and one thing I noticed was the increasing presence of fences and hedgerows, which had been noticeably absent almost all the way from Beijing. Almost like home! I was able to follow a Grand Randonnee de Pays virtually all the way to my day's destination of Saint Saens, but the route was sometimes a bit challenging...
The route markings for the GRP were often faded....(yes it is on the tree trunk and just as well I am a good map reader)....

...and the paths overgrown.....

..we had to negotiate narrow foot bridges.....

..and long dark railway tunnels..

But Zorbee is nothing if not a trooper, and tackled everything with aplomb.

And yes he did manage to squeeze through that narrow gap, though it was only later that I realised we were not on the Grand Randonnee!.....

.

The scarecrows seem much more homely here in Normandy - this one is just back from a shopping trip to Aldi's....

I thought I had a grey horse, but to my surprise I discover it is skewbald....

....Zorbee settles down to eat after a good roll at the Saint Saens stables of yet another fellow Welsh pony breeder Anais Lefebre..

June 10th
Arriving mid-morning in the village of La Neuville-en-Hez on the GR124, Zorbee was able to quench his thirst at La Fontaine Saint Louis...

This spring was named after King Louis IX of France who was born here according to legend - other sources state he was born elsewhere, though he certainly often stayed at the castle here. The Saint Louis moniker is due to the fact that he was the only canonised King of France. He died in 1270 during the Eighth Crusade - not a glorious death on the battlefield, but rather ignominiously of dysentery in Tunisia.

From here we plunged into another former royal forest - this time the Foret de Hez-Froidmont which is a designated Area of Natural Interest for Flora and Fauna.
One unique natural landmark in the forest is La Chene Chandelier, or Candlestick Oak, so named due to its triple branching trunk which resembles a three branched candlestick

Orme Lisse, European White Elm or Ulmus Laevis to give its Latin name, is relatively rare in France but also grows in the forest. I assume the tree behind the little explanatory signboard about Orme Lisse in the photo below is a living example.

...but as it is now a protected species in France, I also assume the logs in the background are not examples.

Leaving the forest at on the other side I came across this ancient wall..

It turned out to be the old wall surrounding the remains of the Cistercian Froidmont Abbey which was destroyed during the French Revolution. Founded in 1134 by Abbott Valeran of Ourscamp, the religious buildings have all gone, and all that remains is the wall and a few agricultural buildings which survive in various states of repair -the ruins of the barn are now a listed historic monument. Incredible to think that at one time the abbey farm was so thriving that in 1230 it reportedly sold 7000 sheep fleeces!

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About Me

Spent most of childhood living in Malaya before returning to school in London. Taught for ten years then moved back to Welsh roots to raise sheep, ponies and young family. Married with 3 children. I am raising money through the ride for my husband Iestyn Thomas's charity Challenge Aid www.challengeaid.org which raises money for disadvantaged children worldwide through exercise. I breed ponies under the Cwrtycadno prefix see www.cwrtycadno.com